The DWP has confirmed that two benefits have officially been axed after all remaining claimants were migrated to Universal Credit instead.
The catch all benefit has been rolled out to replace various other benefits. This year, the Department for Work and Pensions announced that it would move claimants of two benefits; Income Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Housing Benefit, over to Universal Credit.
The DWP has announced that this has now been completed, meaning the two benefits are now ‘closed for most working households’.
It comes after several other benefits were already migrated from what the DWP calls ‘legacy benefits’, including Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit and Jobseekers Allowance, meaning nearly two million people have been moved to Universal Credit.
Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disability, told The Independent: “The successful completion of the move to Universal Credit marks a major milestone, with nearly two million people having now moved on to Universal Credit from legacy benefits, including income-related employment and support allowance and housing benefit, which have now closed for most working households.”
Citizens Advice explains: “If you get one of these legacy benefits, you’ll need to move to Universal Credit if you get a letter telling you to claim by a certain date. This is called a ‘migration notice’.
“You should claim Universal Credit by the date on the letter to keep getting financial support.
“Most people claiming these benefits should have got a migration notice by now. This is because legacy benefits will end for most people in July 2026.
“If the letter gives a deadline for you to claim Universal Credit, it’s a ‘migration notice’. The deadline on your letter is your ‘deadline day’.”
Earlier this year, Sir Stephen Timms announced that the DWP would ‘close’ the ‘outdated systems’ the benefits were based on.
He said in a written statement: “On 31st March 2026, we completed the transition of customers receiving Income Support and income-based Jobseekers Allowance to Universal Credit, allowing the Department to close these outdated systems. In addition, I am setting out my intention to close income related Employment and Support Allowance and applicable Housing Benefit on 30th June 2026. Giving sufficient notice and support to some of our most vulnerable customers was important in enabling everyone who wanted to transition to Universal Credit the time needed to make the move.”